Women In Business: Network, Network, Network
Put your business and personal brand on the map through networking! As businesswomen — as women, truly — we encounter stereotypes left and right. The stereotypical female business moguls are stern and extroverted, often because these traits mimic the “cutthroat businessman”. It’s time to step away from these assumptions, embrace our unique traits, and bring them into our professional lives. As an introvert, this was difficult for me! However, my advice is to embrace your individuality, identify your favorite personality traits, and use your strengths!
Deslonde Harvey of Adorn Studio said it beautifully:
“When you finally embrace who you are, you hold yourself accountable, and you learn about your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Don’t try to force yourself to be someone you’re not, but at the same time, you can still challenge yourself in uncomfortable situations. If I didn’t challenge myself, I would have never made the leap.”
Relationship Building
In Your Company
As you make your bed, so you must lie in it. Whether you ignored your unmade bed, lazily fluffed the blankets, or crisply tucked your nurse’s corners, you have to sleep there when the day is done. The same is said with your business!
The most important business relationships are internal. You may network your heart out, but these relationships are meaningless without a consistent, sturdy internal team. Build a committed and passionate team by treating every member like you, the head-honcho, expect to be treated. Maintain equal respect and open communication across the team. And, remember… you sparked the flame of your business, but your team maintains the fire!
In Your Community
How and where are you presenting yourself online? Networking with individuals holds merit but forming a positive relationship with your target demographic can make or break your business. Evaluate your market: which platforms are most heavily trafficked by your customers, and how can you form an emotional connection online? For many, social media outreach is placed on the back-burner. Consider hiring a social media team or a savvy marketing intern searching for part-time experience.
In Your Field
Maintain communication outreach across all levels of your field. As your business blossoms, don’t limit your networking outreach to similar-sized businesses. Maintain community connection through local, small businesses and start-ups. You have the opportunity to provide support to a small business that will appreciate your positive guidance. Similarly, reach out to larger businesses to gain insight and ticks-of-the-trade. Never refrain from connecting to a larger business because they seem unattainable. Innumerable opportunities await you when you remember your worth and potential!
Know Your Resources!
Browse these resources for the modern business mogul:
Podcasts
Nicaila Matthews Okome is a business pro, “passionate about helping other multi-passionate side hustlers find their voice and share their message with the world”. The Side Hustle Pro podcast is sitting at 3 Million downloads and has been earning praise since 2018.
Additionally, check out The Strategy Hour Podcast and grow your creative business through innovative marketing and productivity strategies that helped these hosts grow their 6-figure business.
Influencers
Financial moguls on Tik Tok? Who knew! Tori Dunlap is gaining fast fame with 855,000 followers and innovative advice on personal finance. Much of her content is tailored towards women and forming financial confidence.
Seminars
Not only does Ms. Okome host the Side Hustle Pro podcast, but she offers a multitude of courses from Master the Gram to The Goal Getter Action Plan.
CO, an editorial website published by The U.S Chamber of Commerce hosts regular online seminars for passionate, entrepreneurial business owners. Check out their most recent seminar, The Roadmap for Rebuilding: Planning Your Financial Future, focused on financing small businesses for long-term growth.
Focus Groups
The connections I made in Women in Financial Services (WIFS) and Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) have truly stood the test of time. WIFS’ Portland Chapter offers valuable webinars, mentorship, and a vast library of resources for novice and experienced women in finance. WCR is an amazing resource for networking in the Portland area. With virtual seminars and in-person networking events, the organization offers resources for members and non-members.
I hope that these tools and resources are incredibly valuable for you as you continue to scale and grow your business. At the end of the day, your solo efforts can only take you so far. However, if you throw in a mix of connections and relationship building, now that’s a game-changer!